The Village has named Beth Bye, Connecticut Office of Early Childhood Commissioner, and the late Richard “Jerry” Bundy, longtime Village Board Member, as its 2025 Champions for Children.
Each year, The Village honors local leaders who are making a significant impact in the lives of children in need. Commissioner Bye and Bundy were recognized for their leadership and commitment to bettering the lives of youth across Connecticut.
“The Village, and the families and communities we serve, have been strengthened by the many decades of work that both Commissioner Bye and our friend Jerry Bundy have invested to better the lives of youth in Connecticut,” said Village President & CEO Hector Glynn. “It is our honor to recognize Commissioner Bye, for her many years of advocacy and leadership as a champion for children’s issues and early childhood care — and Jerry Bundy, for his more than 40 years of impact through tireless fundraising and dedication, which has helped so many families.”
Jerry Bundy, was a cherished member of The Village’s Board of Directors for many years and a community volunteer. He was a passionate advocate for the welfare of children and an integral part of The Village, its Vernon-affiliate KIDSAFE CT, and numerous service organizations.
Bundy was a founding member of KIDSAFE CT in 1981, through which he transformed his love for automobiles into a positive impact for youth in Vernon and beyond. As the owner of Bundy Motors, Bundy created the Kars For Kids program to fix and re-sell cars to support KIDSAFE’s work. He also created the annual KIDSAFE CT Car Show fundraising event, which he grew significantly over the years to become one of the region’s leading charitable car shows. Through his dedication, he raised nearly $2 million to support countless youth and families.
Beth Bye was appointed as Commissioner for the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) by Governor Ned Lamont in January 2019. Bye, who served in the House from 2007 through 2010 and in the Senate from 2011 to 2019, leads an office that was created to coordinate and enhance early childhood development programs and create a cohesive early care system.
In 2013, Senator Bye actually led the effort to create OEC, one of the first such offices in the country, which was informed by her own long-term experience as an early childhood professional. Beth’s experience includes leadership positions at Auerfarm/ Wintonbury Early Childhood Magnet School, Great by 8, and the Capitol Region Education Council. She also helped to open two early childhood magnet schools.
Bye and Bundy were honored at The Village’s Annual Champions for Children Celebration on Thursday, May 15. Jerry’s daughter, Amy, accepted the award in his memory.
The event was hosted by Caitlin Burchill, NBC Connecticut Responds’ Consumer Reporter, who is also a Village ambassador, and featured an inspiring stories from Village adoptees and adoptive parents in celebration of the 100th anniversary of The Village’s historic campus at 1680 Albany Avenue in Hartford.
It also included special recognition for new Village ambassadors as well as The Village Auxiliaries, who have raised nearly $10 million to support The Village over 70 years.
